Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026

Artificial Intelligence Approaches to Assessing Primary Cilia
Published on: May 1, 2021
Primary cilia as biomechanical sensors in regulating endothelial function
Anastasia D Egorova1, Kim van der Heiden, Robert E Poelmann
1Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Depending on the pattern of blood flow to which they are exposed and their proliferative status, vascular endothelial cells can present a primary cilium into the flow compartment of a blood vessel. The cilium modifies the response of endothelial cells to biomechanical forces. Shear stress, which is the drag force exerted by blood flow, is best studied in this respect. Here we review the structural composition of the endothelial cilia and the current status of knowledge about the relation between the presence of primary cilia on endothelial cells and the shear stress to which they are exposed.
Related Concept Videos
Microtubules in Signaling
Mechanism of Ciliary Motion
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...
Mechanism of Ciliary Motion
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...
Cell-matrix's Response to Mechanical Forces
Anchoring junctions mechanically attach a cell to the...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Microvilli
These microvilli are predominantly present in cells lining the small intestine, kidney tubules, and certain cells in the respiratory and reproductive systems. By significantly expanding the surface area of the cell membrane, microvilli enhance the cell's capacity to...

